“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ― Rob Siltanen _ Word Series: Mad Organic T-Shirt.
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ChatGPT’s data centers—like those for most large AI systems—consume water primarily for cooling, which is a common practice in many industries that operate heat-generating equipment. Here’s a comparison of ChatGPT (AI/data centers) water use with other industrial sectors:
📊 Water Use Comparison Table
1. AI/Data Centers (e.g. ChatGPT) • Typical Use: Cooling servers in data centers • Water Usage: ~500 ml to 4 liters per 10–20 prompts • Purpose: Cooling via evaporative systems
2. Power Plants • Typical Use: Steam generation, cooling (especially nuclear & coal) • Water Usage: 20,000–60,000 liters per MWh • Purpose: Steam turbines and heat management
3. Agriculture • Typical Use: Irrigation for crops, livestock • Water Usage: ~1,500 liters per kg of wheat, 15,000 liters per kg of beef • Purpose: Growing food
4. Textile Industry • Typical Use: Dyeing, washing fabrics • Water Usage: ~200 liters per T-shirt, 2,700 liters per cotton shirt • Purpose: Dyeing and rinsing
5. Semiconductor Manufacturing • Typical Use: Washing wafers, ultra-pure water processes • Water Usage: ~7,500–30,000 liters per wafer (depending on chip size) • Purpose: Cleaning and chip etching
6. Steel Production • Typical Use: Cooling, descaling, processing • Water Usage: ~100–150 liters per kg of steel • Purpose: Cooling and material processing
🌍 Context for AI & ChatGPT Water Use
OpenAI reported that ChatGPT usage can indirectly lead to water consumption through data center cooling, especially in places where water-cooled systems are used (like Microsoft’s data centers).
A 2023 paper estimated OpenAI’s GPT models consumed ~500 ml of water per 5–10 prompts, when averaged globally.
💡 Why Does AI Use Water?
Most data centers use evaporative cooling systems or chillers to dissipate heat from servers.
In hot/dry regions, water-cooled systems are more efficient than air cooling, but they consume more water.
🧠 Summary
Efficiency per Impact AI is less water-intensive per unit of energy than agriculture or steel but still contributes noticeably as demand scales. The concern isn’t just total water used, but where it’s used. AI data centers in drought-prone areas may stress local water supplies.
The industries that use the most electricity worldwide (and in most developed economies) are typically the ones with energy-intensive manufacturing or processing operations. Here’s a breakdown of the top electricity-consuming industries:
1. Aluminum and Non-Ferrous Metals
Reason: Smelting aluminum requires massive amounts of electricity for electrolysis.
Share: Up to 10% of total industrial electricity use in some countries.
2. Steel and Iron Production
Reason: Electric arc furnaces (EAF) and other heating processes consume vast amounts of power.
Common Users: Steel mills, foundries.
3. Chemical Industry
Reason: Production of ammonia, chlorine, plastics, and other chemical compounds needs continuous, high-power processes.
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ― Rob Siltanen _ Do Not Destroy NFT Store: Mad Organic White T-Shirt.
Addition Details
Size: 3200 x 3200 pixels (10.7 x 10.7 inch)
Channels: 3 (RGB Color, 8bpc)
Kind: JPEG image
Resolution: 300 pixels/inch
Edition 1/100
Both physical and NFT items are now available in our store.
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ― Rob Siltanen _ Do Not Destroy NFT Store: Mad Organic White T-Shirt.
Addition Details
Size: 3200 x 3200 pixels (10.7 x 10.7 inch)
Channels: 3 (RGB Color, 8bpc)
Kind: JPEG image
Resolution: 300 pixels/inch
Edition 1/100
Both physical and NFT items are now available in our store.
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ― Rob Siltanen _ Do Not Destroy NFT Store: Mad Organic White T-Shirt.
Addition Details
Size: 3200 x 3200 pixels (10.7 x 10.7 inch)
Channels: 3 (RGB Color, 8bpc)
Kind: JPEG image
Resolution: 300 pixels/inch
Edition 1/100
Both physical and NFT items are now available in our store.
